Hugo Rodallega’s first half goal earned Fulham an absolutely momentous victory over Norwich City at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Our relegation rivals actually had the better of the early chances, but found David Stockdale in imperious form.

Fulham hadn’t caused the away goal too much trouble in the opening stages but made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time when Rodallega swept home clinically from inside the penalty area.

Tensions were high in the second period as Norwich probed for an equaliser but Fulham held firm to move to within two points of the Canaries with four games left to play.

Following last week’s epic win over Aston Villa, Felix Magath made just one change to his side as the injured Cauley Woodrow was replaced in the starting XI by our match winner at Villa Park, Rodallega.

Roared on by a magnificent home crowd, Fulham looked to take control of proceedings early on and fashioned the game’s first chance in the fifth minute. Mahamadou Diarra won possession just inside the Norwich half and fed Pajtim Kasami who brushed off two defenders before dragging a shot from distance wide.

The visitors responded quickly, though, and Stockdale needed to be alert to palm behind Nathan Redmond’s cross-cum-shot less than a minute later.

A fine Steven Whittaker pass then found Jonny Howson’s clever run but John Heitinga got back well to block his first time volley.

It was a good little spell for the Norfolk side but Rodallega had his first sight of goal on 14 minutes, only to drag his shot wide of the far post after collecting Kasami’s flick on.

The striker thought he was in again five minutes later after a Steve Sidwell header fell into his path, but he couldn’t keep his balance and the chance was gone.

Norwich then broke with pace following a misplaced Diarra pass, but the Whites recovered well to launch a counter themselves which culminated in Kasami drilling in an effort which deflected over John Ruddy’s crossbar.

Back in January Stockdale made a world class save to deny Ricky van Wolfswinkel a goal in the FA Cup with Budweiser, and he was at it again in the 28th minute. The Dutchman directed a cross towards the top corner but Stockdale showed brilliant reflexes to tip it behind.

And he was in superb form for the resultant corner, too, when he kept out Leroy Fer’s header. The ball was then cleared from under the line, with Bradley Johnson then thankfully putting the loose ball wide.

Norwich had begun to take control of the game and were presented with a good opportunity from a free-kick 20 yards from goal shortly after the half hour mark after Sidwell felled Fer. Robert Snodgrass stepped up and saw his well taken set-piece crash against the bar before heading over. Another let-off for the Whites.

Fulham needed to regain a foothold in the game and had a couple of half chances in the 37th minute as Richardson’s right-footer flew over via a yellow boot, before Fernando Amorebieta’s header from the resultant corner missed the target.

Whittaker went in the book two minutes later for scything down the rampant Richardson deep in the Norwich half and it proved costly as Fulham took the lead as a result. Lewis Holtby bent in a sumptuous free-kick and, after Sidwell had added the slightest of flicks, Rodallega demonstrated brilliant manoeuvrability to wrap his left foot around the ball to sweep it high into the back of the net.

The second half commenced with Fulham on the front foot, and Rodallega found space to connect with Sascha Riether’s set-piece after Richardson had won a corner, but he was unable to generate any power.

Neat link up play between Snodgrass and Fer at the other end on 53 minutes resulted in the latter firing in a shot from 20 yards, but it was straight down Stockdale’s throat and he claimed comfortably.

Rodallega came agonisingly close to doubling his and Fulham’s lead two minutes later when he sent Richardson’s corner goalwards with a placed header, but Martin Olsson was on the line to deflect it behind.

Norwich then squandered a glorious chance to equalise but somehow the ball stayed out. Olsson got in behind Riether and played the ball square of Stockdale for Snodgrass to stick into an empty net, but a combination of Hangeland and Amorebieta managed to put him off and his low drive sailed wide.

Magath then made his first change of the afternoon as Ashkan Dejagah came on for Kasami, with Canaries boss Neil Adams doing likewise soon after as Gary Hooper replaced van Wolfswinkel.

Dejagah was immediately involved and delivered a teasing cross for Rodallega to attack in the 62nd minute, but the Colombian was unable to control his header.

Scott Parker made a welcome return to the First Team fold in the 69th minute when he took the place of Holtby, with Wes Hoolahan replacing Fer at the same time.

And the Whites midfielder had a decent opening fall his way soon after his introduction as he collected Riether’s cutback on the edge of the area. He skipped one challenge but skewed his shot wide of the far post.

A speculative pass then fell kindly for Hooper at the other end, but Amorebieta was on hand to block his shot to send it behind for a corner. Norwich almost scored from the set-piece, but Rodallega was able to head Michael Turner’s header away from near the line.

Fulham desperately needed a second goal to add some calm and it nearly arrived in the 77th minute when Sidwell let fly from just outside the box, but Ruddy was able to get enough of his body behind the fierce effort.

Adams made his final alteration of the afternoon with 11 minutes remaining as Josh Murphy – who enjoyed a good game against the Whites at Carrow Road in the cup – replaced Howson. The winger looked to make something happen straightaway and wasn’t too far off with a bending effort two minutes after coming on.

Magath then played his final card as Diarra departed after another gargantuan display, with William Kvist coming on in his place.

The tension was immense inside the stadium but Parker thought he’d won a penalty in the 89th minute when he went down under a heavy challenge, but the referee decided no foul had been made.

A Norwich corner had hearts in mouths in the final minute of normal time but Fulham were able to clear and actually won a free-kick some distance up the pitch when Snodgrass chopped down Richardson, earning a yellow card for his troubles.

Dejagah should have sewn it up in stoppage time when he was put in by Rodallega only to blaze over. It didn’t matter though as the final whistle went seconds later to the immense relief of everyone associated with Fulham.

The emotion on the face of every player was plain to see as the Whites moved one step closer to pulling off another ‘Great Escape.’

56' So close for the visitors as Johnson clips a pass into the path of Olsson who rounds Stockdale. With Snodgrass lurking, Hangeland and Amorebieta do just enough to deny the midfielder an easy tap in.

54' Rodallega meets Richardson's deep corner from the right, Olsson does well to clear on the line.

52' Good run from Snodgrass who cuts in from the right, the ball is eventually worked to Fer who then moves Stockdale into a low save.

51' Sidwell closes down Jonny Howson, in winning possession the midfielder just can't knock the ball into Rodallega's stride.

48' Redmond drives in a powerful cross from the right, Stockdale does well to claim.

47' Martin tries to switch play from right to left, thankfully his long pass is too high for Redmond.

46' And we're back underway at the Cottage, where Fulham look to build on Rodallega's strike.

46' Half-time at the Cottage, where Hugo Rodallega's strike separates the two sides at the break.

44' Kasami centres a high pass for Rodallega to chase, the Colombian is seemingly hauled down but the referee waves play on.

43' Kasami squanders possession and Fulham are lucky the visitors didn't score as a result. Excellent recovery play from Heitinga and Hangeland.

42' Fer lines up a strike from distance, Sidwell blocks but Norwich win a corner.

39'Lewis Holtby floats in a free-kick from the left and Rodallega sweeps the ball home with a fine left-footed strike.

38'Whittaker is shown a yellow card for a late foul on Richardson.

36' Richardson does well when taking on Russell Martin. He cuts inside on his weaker foot and sees his strike take a wicked deflection.

35' Riether curls in a delivery from the left, Norwich clear.

32' Robert Snodgrass then steps up and rattles the crossbar with a stinging strike.

31'Leroy Fer goes into the book for taking a free-kick too quickly.

30' Norwich are on top right now, Redmond threatens again and Fulham just about clear before conceding a dangerous free-kick from John Heitinga's foul.

28' Great chance for Norwich as van Wolfswinkel strikes from close range. Stockdale makes a stunning stop.

27' Leroy Fer shrugs off three Fulham players, Sidwell then commits the foul.

23' Another brave tackle from Sidwell stops the visitors from threatening. Fulham break, but Kasami's cross from the left is easily dealt with by Steven Whittaker.

21' Rodallega is in the thick of it again, twisting and turning in the Norwich box. He tries to slip a pass through to Sidwell, but Norwich see the ball out.

20' At the other end, Rodallega heads the ball down for Kasami whose strike takes a deflection. Corner for Fulham.

19' Sidwell then denies Redmond as Norwich look to create a shooting chance.

18' Rodallega meets another flick on from Sidwell, but the striker just couldn't keep his balance with the goal in sight.